For Those Who Keep Us Free 'Dames' and dignitaries join town's observance of Veterans Day

By Shawn P. Sullivan

Sanford News Editor

Thursday, November 15, 2012

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Saluting Their Service
photo by Shawn P. Sullivan
The talented members of the G.I. Dames raise their American flags during a USO-style tribute to veterans at the Memorial Gym in Sanford on Sunday, Nov. 11. For more photos from the event, please turn to Page A5.

SANFORD — The town’s annual Veterans Day ceremony featured a heartfelt and entertaining twist at the Memorial Gym on Sunday — the G.I. Dames showed up and paid patriotic, USO-style tribute to the local men and women who have served in the United States military.

Led by Shirley Girard, the singers dressed in uniform, raised American flags, and marched as they sang songs of appreciation to veterans. At one point, the Dames even danced to the swinging oldies on the gymnasium’s floor, surely bringing back memories for veterans who similarly cut loose with their loved ones during their younger days of service.

The event reached an emotional high point when Girard sang a variation of Bette Midler’s 1980s ballad, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” and the Dames filtered into the bleachers to personally shake the hands of all veterans in attendance.

Girard also sang the national anthem to open the ceremony. Her husband, Bruce, also sang a song of tribute, which had a refrain that asked, “Who Will Fill Their Shoes?”

In keeping with the town’s tradition, local history teacher Paul Auger served as Master of Ceremonies. The Sanford High School Band performed three numbers — the Armed Services Salute among them — and Massabesic High School’s Naval Junior ROTC ceremoniously folded the American flag at the end of the event.

Captain Jack McAdam, who owns McDougal Orchards on Hanson Ridge Road, delivered a speech about the history of the U.S. Merchant Marine. McAdam, who grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts, graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1972. For 32 years, he sailed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, reaching the rank of Master and commanding two NOAA ships, the Delaware II and Albatross IV, out of Woods Hole. He spent his career at sea on fisheries research vessels, according to the biography that accompanied the ceremony’s program. He also served as liaison between the civilian crews and the NOAA management. He retired from the NOAA in 2009.

After McAdam’s presentation, Auger recognized Raymond Fortier, another Merchant Mariner, in the audience. Fortier stood, and the audience applauded.

“He’s exactly everything that we just heard about,” Auger said.

The ceremony was held according to historical tradition, on the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Attendance was lower than in recent years, perhaps partly due to church services held across town that Sunday morning, but several dignitaries arrived to represent either the town, the county, or such local veterans’ organizations as the AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, the Marine Corp League and Rolling Thunder.

No doubt Girard best summed up the sentiments and feelings of those who attended Sunday’s ceremony to thank the American men and women who have served the United States over the decades, all across the globe, during times of peace and of war.

“Thank you for your service to our country, from all of us in the G.I. Dames,” Girard said. “We love you.”